In a resounding testament to Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR)’s commitment to innovative, community-engaged research, the university’s project titled The ARmazing Race: Augmented Reality-Enhanced Adventure Game for English Learning won the Gold Award at the International Conference on Cross-Disciplinary Academic Research Online International Innovation Competition 2025, announced on 1 September 2025. Organised under the theme Empowering Innovation Through Technology, Professional Education, and Societal Progress, the competition was held from 1 April 2025 to 18 August 2025 and was jointly organised by Universiti Poly-Tech Malaysia, MARA Corporation Sdn. Bhd. and the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development.
The award-winning project was led by Dr Nadya Supian, Chairperson of the Centre for Modern Languages and Literature at UTAR, alongside a dedicated research team comprising Dr Wan Irma Sabrina binti Idris, Mr Maxwell Sim Yik Seng, Pn Wan Norfadillah binti Wan Nawi, Cik Nur Farhana binti Abd Wahid, and Ms Josephine Freni Affrin from International College of Advanced Technology, Sarawak.
Launched in 2023 and supported by the UTAR Research Fund (UTARRF), the ARmazing Race project employs augmented reality (AR) to create an outdoor adventure game aimed at enhancing English language learning among low-performing secondary school students. Participants navigate through physical and cognitive checkpoints, using AR cues accessed via the Eyejack app to solve puzzles and complete language-based tasks, all aimed at developing their vocabulary, comprehension, and communication skills.
The main event was held on 17 May 2024 at SMK Agama Dato’ Haji Abbas, engaging 132 students from 11 schools across the Kuala Nerus district in Terengganu. Prizes were awarded to the top three teams that completed the ARmazing Race in the fastest time, further motivating participation and rewarding teamwork.
Reflecting on the win, Dr Nadya shared, “It feels deeply rewarding and humbling, especially as this was our first team entry in such a competition. Winning affirms the belief I had when first conceptualising this project, and it energises me to dream bigger and push this initiative even further with my wonderful team.”
Team members also highlighted the significance of the achievement. Dr Wan Irma Sabrina described it as a “proud achievement,” while Cik Nur Farhana called the experience “truly rewarding” and a source of renewed motivation. Ms Josephine Affrin added that the recognition strengthens their academic credibility and belief in real-world educational transformation.
The project aligns with ICAR’s Track 3, Advances in Humanities, Education, Teaching, Learning & Arts, and integrates technological innovation with educational theory. It not only supports language proficiency but also cultivates confidence, soft skills, and cross-school collaboration among students. Mr Maxwell Sim remarked, “I felt really empowered to push myself further in this area of applied research so that I can be more efficient and learn to work in teams.” According to Pn Wan Norfadillah, the recognition is a strong affirmation that AR-enhanced learning can make language education more engaging and impactful.
Beyond awards, the project sets a foundation for broader educational transformation. As Dr Nadya noted, “These recognitions are milestones that show we are on the right path. They open doors to collaboration and give momentum to expand the project to make a lasting impact on communities and the field at large.”
UTAR team (from left): Mr Maxwell Sim, Dr Wan, Dr Nadya, Pn Wan Norfadillah, and Cik Nur Farhana with their certificate of achievement
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